Cuba power grid suffers 'total disconnection'

Cuba's national power operator announced on Monday that the island's electrical system had suffered a complete collapse, triggering a nationwide blackout as technicians worked to restore service. The state-run company UNE said in a post on X that the National Electric Power System had gone down completely without immediate explanation.

"A total disconnection of the National Electric Power System is occurring. The causes are being investigated," UNE said, adding that updates would be provided as the situation developed. The outage marks the most severe power failure to hit the Caribbean nation amid an ongoing energy emergency.

Economic crisis deepens

The grid collapse comes as Cuba faces its most severe economic crisis in decades, with official media reporting sharp contractions in recent months and daily power outages stretching to 20 hours on average. The electricity deficit has climbed to 1,955 megawatts, according to official figures, while chronic fuel shortages continue to cripple generation capacity across the island.

Officials in Havana have blamed much of the infrastructure deterioration on tightened US sanctions, saying Washington has disrupted oil supplies and pressured international companies doing business with the island. The measures have restricted Cuba's access to international credit and financing, compounding the difficulties in maintaining aging power plants.

Washington sanctions

The White House announced on May 1 that President Donald Trump had signed an executive order imposing new sanctions on Cuban officials and entities, citing repression and threats to US national security and foreign policy. The move followed a January executive order in which Trump declared a national emergency and established a mechanism to impose tariffs on goods from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba, according to the White House.

The sanctions have targeted shipping companies and energy suppliers, disrupting the fuel deliveries that Cuba relies upon to keep its electrical grid operational. Cuban authorities have accused Washington of waging economic warfare against the island nation.